BCCI has curtailed the time players spend with their families on overseas tours.
Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg believes that the BCCI's new limitations on family stay on international tours will put a lot of pressure on Virat Kohli. Kohli has been in his poorest form in Test cricket, failing to perform consistently over India's current extended Test season.
The right-handed batter scored 382 runs in ten Test matches (19 innings) at an average of 22.47, with a hundred and fifty to his name. Following Kohli's continuous bad performances, questions have been raised over his place in the team.
Hogg expressed his thoughts on the topic, stating that Kohli now has a lot more duties off the field after starting a family, and as a result, he is unable to perform to his full potential.
"He (Kohli) has got a family now. He has other commitments off the field that he did not have when he was really dominating all three formats around the globe. So it is not just about the cricket, it is what's happening off the field as well. I think it is more the drama off-field than on-field for Virat. I just think he has just got too much on his plate that has probably caused him to not perform as well at this moment,” said Hogg on his YouTube channel.
Also, Hogg emphasized how the BCCI's new guidelines could place a lot more pressure on Kohli, and advocated that players should spend as much time as possible with their families on tours.
"With the new rules that the BCCI has brought in, in regards to families, that's gonna put even more stress on Virat...because you gotta have that balance. I think players should be able to have their families on tour as much as possible, especially with the amount of cricket and the amount of travel that India has at the present moment,” he added.
Following India's recent series losses to New Zealand and Australia, the BCCI has implemented additional rules for the team. The board has made it necessary for all players to travel with the squad and has reduced the length of family stays during overseas tours.
Recently, chief selector Ajit Agarkar expressed his views on the imposition of the new restrictions, stating that every sports team has specific standards that players must observe. He also emphasized that the board's new directives do not punish players. It remains to be seen how the new rules will affect the team's performance in the following months.
(India Today inputs)